Wellness Centre

The last financial year has been momentous for the Foundation.

The commencement of our Wellness Centre Coordinator has meant that we have started regular allied health sessions and use of the Wellness Centre, which is now adorned with art and fitted with two state of the art massage chairs for patients and their families to use when visiting the centre.

From a research perspective, in addition to our seed funding of the Dubbo Hospital Clinical Trials Unit, we have funded local cancer researchers in their studies and presentation of their research into implantable cancer therapy devices, as well as impacts on “time-toxicity” when delivering treatment in different environments, which can hopefully impact government policy improving access to care in the regions.

In education we have subsidised nursing education improving supportive care for their patients, and have funded local patient peer-to-peer support groups. The cancer centre is in the final throes of training staff in Walgett to start a remote video assisted chemotherapy service in that town later this year, and the Foundation proudly funded this initiative to deliver cancer care as close to home as possible in the northern parts of the catchment. Walgett will join Cobar and Brewarrina who have also received funds from the Western Cancer Centre Foundation to step up chemotherapy units in those towns.

The following financial year holds many promises – with some community partners we are looking at how the Western Cancer Centre Foundation can provide a structured exercise program for people living with cancer in Western NSW. This is in light of the exciting Australian and Canadian evidence shown at this month’s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, the world’s premiere oncology research meeting, that a directed exercise physiology program improves cancer survival in those with colorectal cancer.

We will also be looking at expanding other services that the Wellness Centre provides, and funding exciting research which looks to improve the quality of life of people living with cancer in Western NSW.

Thank you once again for your assistance in improving cancer care in Western NSW